Attapeu province

Coordinates: 14°48′00″N 106°49′59″E / 14.8°N 106.833°E / 14.8; 106.833
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Attapeu province
ແຂວງ ອັດຕະປື
UTC+7 (ICT)
ISO 3166 codeLA-AT
HDI (2017)0.559[2]
medium · 12th

Attapeu (Lao: ອັດຕະປື [ʔát.tā.pɯ̀ː]) is a province of Laos in the southeast of the country. It has five districts: Samakkixay, Xaysetha, Sanamxay, Sanxay, and Phouvong, covering an area of 10,320 square kilometres (3,980 sq mi) with a population of 127,285.[3] Its capital city lies at Attapeu (Muang Samakkixay).

It was known as the "land of heroism". There are two biodiversity areas: Dong Ampham Forest (200,000 ha) and Xepaine Forest.[4] A large part of the province is managed by the Dong Ampham National Biodiversity Conservation Area.

History

The province was part of the

National Liberation Front; the pro-Royalist militia group led by General Vang Pao. By the end of the war, much of the area was destroyed, remnants of which can be seen even now in some stretches of the Ho Chi Minh Road.[4]

Geography

Attapeu province covers an area of 10,320 square kilometres (3,980 sq mi).[5][4] It borders Sekong province to the north, Vietnam (Kom Tum) to the east, Virachey National Park of Cambodia (Ratanakiri and Stung Treng) to the south, and Champasak province to the west. Notable settlements in the province include Attapeu, Ban Nonghin, Ban Xoutouat, Ban Nong Songhong, Ban Renthuk, Ban Phiahom, Ban Choim, Ban Pakha, Ban Onglouang, Ban Het, Muang May, Ban kong Han, Ban Xakhe, and Ban Dakkrong.[6]

The province's terrain is rugged.[citation needed] Its capital city Attapeu (Samakkhixay District) is in a valley. The Bolaven Plateau stretches across Attapeu as well as three others provinces, Champasak, Salavan, and Sekong.[citation needed] The landscape of the province consists of thick forest, rivers and streams and plains areas in the backdrop of mountains such as Phou Saphong and Phou Luang.[4] The principal rivers are the

Ho Chi Minh Trail passed through the province. The main roads are Route 13, the most important road in the country, and Route 11.[4] The main settlements are Attapeu, Xaysetha, and Sanamxai
.

Protected areas

Nong Fa Lake

National Biodiversity Conservation Areas of Laos. Dong Ampham is home to "some of the last intact areas of lowland and tropical forests remaining in mainland Southeast Asia."[9] Topographical features include Xe Kaman and Xe Xou Rivers, [10] and the volcanic lake Nong Fa Lake. Tigers and Clouded leopard are recorded fauna in remote areas.[11]

The 71,400 hectare Attapu Plain is an Important Bird Area (IBA) adjacent to the NBCA. It is at an elevation of 200–400 metres (660–1,310 ft). The topography includes wetlands, such as the Xe Khaman and the Xe Xou Rivers, as well as freshwater lakes and pools. Dry forest landscapes, dry deciduous forest, shingle and stony beaches are habitats. Notable avifauna are the lesser fish eagle Ichthyophaga humilis, red-headed vulture Sarcogyps calvus, and white-rumped vulture Gyps bengalensis.[12]

Administrative divisions

The province is composed of the following districts:[4]

Map Code Name Vietnamese Lao script
17-01
Saysetha District
 Mueang Xaysetha ເມືອງໄຊສະຖານ
17-02
Samakkhixay District
 Mueang Samakkhixay ເມືອງສະໝັກຄີໄຊ
17-03
Sanamxay District
 Mueang Sanamxay ເມືອງສະໜາມໄຊ
17-04
Sanxay District
 Mueang Sanxay ເມືອງສານໄຊ
17-05
Phouvong District
 Mueang Phouvong ເມືອງພູວົງ

Demographics

Lao Loum people in Attapeu outnumber those in other nearby provinces.[citation needed] Its population is reported to be 110,000 and consists of several ethnic communities; 15 major tribes are reported in the province which include Lao, Alak, Katang, Kaleum, Katou, Suay, Oy, Taoy, Sadang, Nge, Lavea, Lavenh, Cheuang, Tariang and Nyaheung groups.[4]

Economy

Rice fields
HAGL rubber plantation on the road to Vietnam

Attapeu's economy is largely agricultural. In this province, the trade in wild life is significant (though underestimated by the government) and hence its conservation is important. The listed globally threatened wild life species number 14 (according to the

World Conservation Union (IUCN Red List and 23 species according to the CITES. In the rural economy Laos (80 percent of rural households), the dependency on forest resources is great, concentrated in the fields of wild animals and plants, exchanged and extracted for achieving sustainable income; fish is one of main aquatic vertebrates exploited, apart from other terrestrial and aquatic vertebrates.[13]

Given its proximity to Vietnam, the province has traditionally been a source for raw materials and forest products for adjacent regions in Vietnam. Luxury forest products exported by Champa through its seaports were sourced from places as far as Attapeu.[14]

More recently, some Vietnamese companies expanded into Attapeu province. Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group has acquired rights to grow rubber trees in the province. The company also plans to invest in electricity generation, sugar refining, and organic fertilizer production.[15] Construction of a US$100 million sugar project including industrial facilities started in November 2011.[16]

Landmarks

Some of the important locations in the province are the

Xaysetha District, built in 1579.[4] The temple of Wat Luang Muang Mai in the capital city of Attapeu was built in 1939 and is notable for original naga barge boards.[17] King Setthathirat of the Lan Xang is buried in a stupa at the temple of Wat Pha Saysettha in Pha Meuang, approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from the capital city. The Sihanouk Trail branches from the Ho Chi Minh Trail at Phu Vong, 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) from the capital.[18]

Villages

Gallery

  • Xekong province: Tad Feak Falls, just across the border from Attapeu
    Xekong province: Tad Feak Falls, just across the border from Attapeu
  • Forested area, Attapeu province
    Forested area, Attapeu province
  • Attapeu village
    Attapeu village

References

  1. ^ Brinkhoff, Thomas (11 September 2020). "Statistical data from the yearly provincial census of Laos. 2020 official". city population. Open publishing. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  2. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
  3. ^ "Attapeu Overview". Tourism Laos. Tourism Marketing Department, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism. Archived from the original on 4 November 2016. Retrieved 4 September 2018.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Destination: Attapeu Province". Lao Tourism Organisation. Archived from the original on 13 October 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  5. ^ "Home". Regions. Official website of Laos Tourism. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
  6. ^ "Base Map:Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR)". UNOSAT. Archived from the original on 25 March 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2012.
  7. ^ The Lao National Tourism Administration. "Attapeu Province". Ecotourism Laos. GMS Sustainable Tourism Development Project in Lao PDR. Archived from the original on 29 August 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  8. ^ "Dong Ampham National Biodiversity Conservation Area". Protectedplanet.net. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  9. ^ Islam 2010, p. 257.
  10. ^ Claridge 1996, p. 32.
  11. ^ Bush, Elliot & Ray 2010, p. 307.
  12. ^ "Important Bird Areas factsheet: Attapu Plain". BirdLife International. 2012. Archived from the original on 14 October 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  13. ^ "Trade in Natural Resources in Attopu Province". Mekong Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 30 November 2012.
  14. ^ Hardy, Cucarzi & Zolese 2009, p. 114.
  15. ^ Nguyen, Binh (17 March 2011). "HAGL diversifies investment portfolio in Laos". Saigon Times. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  16. ^ "Vietnam group starts huge sugar project in Laos". Vietnam Investment Review. 23 November 2011. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  17. ^ Bush, Elliot & Ray 2010, p. 308.
  18. ^ Bush, Elliot & Ray 2010, p. 310.

Bibliography

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